(Wels, 26/03/2020) Several project partners, including Fronius, combined their know-how for the “HySnow” flagship project, which aims to significantly drive forward the decarbonisation of winter tourism using an innovative hydrogen refuelling system and the associated “Lynx HySnow” snowmobile. The zero-emission, low-noise and powerful hydrogen drive once again proves its great potential when replacing conventional combustion engines in different types of vehicles.
The reduction of noise and pollution, as well as the possibility of using renewable energy sources, is a key issue, including in winter sports regions. The declared objective of the HySnow project, which has been funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Climate and Energy Fund, is to create a zero-emission energy cycle in Alpine tourism regions. The entire chain, from the photovoltaic system and hydrogen production, including the refuelling system, to the vehicle prototypes themselves, has therefore been developed, installed and tested under real operating conditions at the Hinterstoder-Wurzeralm ski resort. The project presentation took place during the FIS Ski World Cup 2020.
It is crucial that snowmobiles provide as much power as possible at a low weight and are reliable in low temperatures. Short refuelling times and comparatively high ranges ensure high vehicle availability for mountain rescue or maintenance service employees. The fuel required – green hydrogen in this example – is generated using a 34.5-kWp PV system. This is directly coupled with an electrolysis module with a downstream compressor, thus establishing a 350-bar tank infrastructure. Fronius provides the project with important components for the refuelling system infrastructure and the two Fronius Symo inverters are the energy source for producing hydrogen from solar power.
Several project partners came together to share their know-how as part of the “White mobility revolution” project with HySnow. BRP-Rotax GmbH&CoKG is the consortium leader of the four-year project and is being supported by Fronius International GmbH, HyCentA Research GmbH, the Institute of Electrical Measurement and Measurement Signal Processing (EMT) of TU Graz, Elring Klinger AG, ECuSoL GmbH and Hinterstoder-Wurzeralm Bergbahnen AG as project partners.
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